Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India are unlikely to play a bilateral series with Pakistan anytime soon. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has made it clear that the board will follow the Indian government’s guidance on cricket ties with their arch-rivals. “In these circumstances, our stated policy is that we will do whatever the Indian government tells us to do in this matter. And ICC has also provided that if the government says something about a country, the cricket board will follow it. Similarly, in this case as well, whatever the government says will be followed. I don’t think it’s possible to have bilateral tours in the current situation,” Shukla told news agency ANI.
India and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in 2012-13. Pakistan visited India for three ODIs and two T20Is. Pakistan won the ODI series 2-1, while the T20s were drawn. Since then, no bilateral tours have taken place. Shukla noted that India follows a policy of playing on “third soil” – matches either in India or abroad, but never in Pakistan. “The stand of the Indian government has been there all the time in the past. I think that is absolutely fine. That’s why I find bilateral tours difficult. Although Pakistan came to India many times after that. But then the Government of India made a policy: that any triangular series or international tournament, we will play together, but on a third soil. Third soil means either in India or abroad,” he added.Tensions worsened last year after India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Following this, the ICC adopted a hybrid model, allowing Pakistan to host the 2025 Champions Trophy while India played in the UAE. Pakistan also hosted the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup matches in Sri Lanka while India hosted the tournament.Shukla also highlighted security concerns in Pakistan, recalling the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. “Where did this start? When the Sri Lankan team was attacked there, they had to run away. So even the government there cannot confidently say that they will give security properly,” he added.
